My hens are dying, vets says 2.5 years is old? true

[tammye]

I am losing my 2 year 7 month old hens. Called a vet and he said they are old and succumb to disease more easily. This stinks!!
I am wondering if I have a virus ect.. spreading throughout my flock or are they just old?? The three that have gone were small hens and very heavy layers.

 

[chicmom]

That's not really that old for a chicken. Alot of vets really don't know a whole lot about chickens. People don't often take them to the vet either. Do you hens display any symptoms?

 

[hennyannie]

What breed do you have and how close together were the deaths?

 

[Rebel Rooster]

I have hens that are 3 years old... fat & healthy and laying almost everyday! IMO 2 1/2 years old is not a point of 'Dying of old age' in your chickens...

 

[tammye]

two that have died are BO's and now my Barred rock in ill. Suddenly lisless, not eating well, watery diarrhea, thin, very thirsty?? any ideas

 

[Evelle]

You totally have something going around if you have any more chicken best to qurentean the barred rock.
The oldest living chicken (on record) was 16 died a few years ago.

 

[bairo]

Quote:
is that all the symptoms? anything else? shaking of the head? etc. any new birds added lately?

 

[Evelle]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(chicken)
Here's a little story about her if your interested

I hope your chickens get to feeling better. Give them lots of water and electrolytes!

 

[chicmom]

What about worming? They could have some internal parasites that are killing them......

 

[aubreynoramarie]

To me that sounds like a bad case of worms

but that would be odd for all of them to have it. And I think almost three years old could be a normal old age for hatchery stock chickens. Unfortunately it sounds like they're I'll, not just old

good luck